Question 1

Explain why stromatolites are believed to hold a clue to the origin of the first prokaryotic cells on Earth during the Precambrian Era.

Accepted Answer

Answers may vary but should indicate tha

Question 2

The fact that a nucleic acid is a very complicated molecule suggests that

Accepted Answer

A) the RNA-first hypothesis is impossible. 
B) RNA could not have arisen on its own by chance,but required enzymes to guide the synthesis of nucleotides and then nucleic acids. 
C) sophisticated enzymes were not present or available to synthesize it. 
D) no natural system could ever generate it. 
E) the protein-first hypothesis is therefore the only plausible hypothesis. 
A) the RNA-first hypothesis is impossible. 
B) RNA could not have arisen on its own by chance,but required enzymes to guide the synthesis of nucleotides and then nucleic acids. 
C) sophisticated enzymes were not present or available to synthesize it. 
D) no natural system could ever generate it. 
E) the protein-first hypothesis is therefore the only plausible hypothesis.

Question 3

The Carboniferous Period is extremely significant to our current society because

Accepted Answer

A) the Carboniferous forests turned into the coal that fuels modern society. 
B) human evolution began in the period. 
C) plants and animals first adapted to a terrestrial environment during this period. 
D) mammals diversified. 
A) the Carboniferous forests turned into the coal that fuels modern society. 
B) human evolution began in the period. 
C) plants and animals first adapted to a terrestrial environment during this period. 
D) mammals diversified.

Question 4

The formation of the ozone shield during the Precambrian era helped to create favorable conditions for the evolution of terrestrial life forms.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

Which of the following time periods contains the others?

Accepted Answer

A) Cretaceous 
B) Triassic 
C) Jurassic 
D) Mesozoic 
A) Cretaceous 
B) Triassic 
C) Jurassic 
D) Mesozoic

Question 6

The first cells gave rise to

Accepted Answer

A) bacteria and archaea. 
B) archaea and protists. 
C) bacteria and fungi. 
D) eukaryotes and bacteria. 
A) bacteria and archaea. 
B) archaea and protists. 
C) bacteria and fungi. 
D) eukaryotes and bacteria.

Question 7

The first known multicellular organisms evolved approximately how many years ago?

Accepted Answer

A) 3.5 BYA 
B) 2.1 BYA 
C) 1.4 BYA 
D) 100 MYA 
A) 3.5 BYA 
B) 2.1 BYA 
C) 1.4 BYA 
D) 100 MYA

Question 8

Which of the following lists of mass extinctions and eras is correct?

Accepted Answer

A) The Precambrian experienced 0,Paleozoic experienced 3,Mesozoic experienced 2,and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions. 
B) The Precambrian experienced 2,Paleozoic experienced 2,Mesozoic experienced 3,and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions. 
C) The Precambrian experienced 0,Paleozoic experienced 2,Mesozoic experienced 3,and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions. 
D) The Precambrian experienced 1,Paleozoic experienced 3,Mesozoic experienced 2,and the Cretaceous experienced 1 mass extinctions. 
A) The Precambrian experienced 0,Paleozoic experienced 3,Mesozoic experienced 2,and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions. 
B) The Precambrian experienced 2,Paleozoic experienced 2,Mesozoic experienced 3,and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions. 
C) The Precambrian experienced 0,Paleozoic experienced 2,Mesozoic experienced 3,and the Cretaceous experienced 0 mass extinctions. 
D) The Precambrian experienced 1,Paleozoic experienced 3,Mesozoic experienced 2,and the Cretaceous experienced 1 mass extinctions.

Question 9

________ proposed that polypeptides and RNA evolved simultaneously.

Accepted Answer

A) Stanley Miller 
B) Graham Cairns-Smith 
C) Thomas Cech 
D) Aleksander Oparin 
E) Sidney Fox 
A) Stanley Miller 
B) Graham Cairns-Smith 
C) Thomas Cech 
D) Aleksander Oparin 
E) Sidney Fox

Question 10

Which statement is NOT true about the RNA-first hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A) It is supported by the discovery that RNA can act as an enzyme. 
B) It is supported by the fact that some viruses have RNA as their genetic material. 
C) It suggests that there was an "RNA world" about 4 billion years ago. 
D) It says that first RNA,then DNA,and then proteins would have been necessary to interact in the chemical evolution that would have led to the development of the first cells. 
A) It is supported by the discovery that RNA can act as an enzyme. 
B) It is supported by the fact that some viruses have RNA as their genetic material. 
C) It suggests that there was an "RNA world" about 4 billion years ago. 
D) It says that first RNA,then DNA,and then proteins would have been necessary to interact in the chemical evolution that would have led to the development of the first cells.

Question 11

The lack of oxygen in the ancient Earth's atmosphere was beneficial because oxygen combines with organic molecules to prevent them from forming polymers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Which piece of evidence best supports the endosymbiotic theory of organelle evolution?

Accepted Answer

A) Mitochondria and chloroplasts are the same size as bacteria. 
B) Mitochondria and chloroplasts divide by binary fission. 
C) Mitochondria and chloroplasts both contain DNA and some can make their own proteins. 
D) The outer membrane of chloroplasts and mitochondria resembles that of a eukaryotic cell while the inner membrane resembles that of a bacterial cell. 
E) All of these are correct. 
A) Mitochondria and chloroplasts are the same size as bacteria. 
B) Mitochondria and chloroplasts divide by binary fission. 
C) Mitochondria and chloroplasts both contain DNA and some can make their own proteins. 
D) The outer membrane of chloroplasts and mitochondria resembles that of a eukaryotic cell while the inner membrane resembles that of a bacterial cell. 
E) All of these are correct.

Question 13

If the hypothesis that protocells were based on an "RNA world" is correct,what would be necessary to shift to a "DNA world"?

Accepted Answer

A) an enzyme or reaction capable of removing one oxygen from ribose in nucleotides 
B) enzymes for reverse transcription of RNA into DNA 
C) new enzymes to replicate the DNA 
D) new enzymes for transcribing DNA back to RNA 
E) All would be necessary to switch to a "DNA world." 
A) an enzyme or reaction capable of removing one oxygen from ribose in nucleotides 
B) enzymes for reverse transcription of RNA into DNA 
C) new enzymes to replicate the DNA 
D) new enzymes for transcribing DNA back to RNA 
E) All would be necessary to switch to a "DNA world."

Question 14

Dinosaurs were the dominant group during the Mesozoic Era and many scientists believe that they were

Accepted Answer

A) endothermic,or warm-blooded. 
B) ectothermic,or cold-blooded. 
C) exergonic,or energy releasing. 
D) both endothermic and ectothermic.Some scientists believe that certain dinosaurs were endothermic while others believe that certain dinosaurs were ectothermic. 
A) endothermic,or warm-blooded. 
B) ectothermic,or cold-blooded. 
C) exergonic,or energy releasing. 
D) both endothermic and ectothermic.Some scientists believe that certain dinosaurs were endothermic while others believe that certain dinosaurs were ectothermic.

Question 15

The place where two plates meet and scrape past one another,creating stress that results in earthquakes,is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A) subduction zone. 
B) transform boundary. 
C) oceanic ridge. 
D) supercontinent. 
A) subduction zone. 
B) transform boundary. 
C) oceanic ridge. 
D) supercontinent.

Question 16

When and where did the first multicellular protists evolve?

Accepted Answer

A) Africa,2.3 BYA 
B) Canada,1.4 BYA 
C) Middle East,4.6 BYA 
D) Asia,3.2 BYA 
A) Africa,2.3 BYA 
B) Canada,1.4 BYA 
C) Middle East,4.6 BYA 
D) Asia,3.2 BYA

Question 17

Which statement is NOT true about a protocell?

Accepted Answer

A) It would have contained DNA as its genetic material. 
B) It would have been present before the development of a true cell. 
C) It would have had a lipid and protein membrane forming the outer layer. 
D) It would have contained a biochemical pathway for energy metabolism. 
E) It might have been like a coacervate droplet in which a semipermeable boundary allows some materials to be absorbed from the surrounding environment. 
A) It would have contained DNA as its genetic material. 
B) It would have been present before the development of a true cell. 
C) It would have had a lipid and protein membrane forming the outer layer. 
D) It would have contained a biochemical pathway for energy metabolism. 
E) It might have been like a coacervate droplet in which a semipermeable boundary allows some materials to be absorbed from the surrounding environment.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is true regarding the theory of continental drift?

Accepted Answer

A) Alfred Wegener believed that the continents formed a supercontinent called Pangea. 
B) Charles Darwin believed that the continents formed a supercontinent called Pangea. 
C) Charles Lyell believed that the continents split into two smaller continents called Gondwana and Laurasia. 
D) Alfred Wallace believed that the distribution of seed fern fossils supported continental drift. 
A) Alfred Wegener believed that the continents formed a supercontinent called Pangea. 
B) Charles Darwin believed that the continents formed a supercontinent called Pangea. 
C) Charles Lyell believed that the continents split into two smaller continents called Gondwana and Laurasia. 
D) Alfred Wallace believed that the distribution of seed fern fossils supported continental drift.

Question 19

The oxygen in the atmosphere developed approximately ________ billion years ago.

Accepted Answer

A) 1.5 
B) 2.0 
C) 3.5 
D) 4.5 
A) 1.5 
B) 2.0 
C) 3.5 
D) 4.5

Question 20

The time that it takes for half of a radioactive isotope to change into another stable element is its

Accepted Answer

A) activation time. 
B) life span. 
C) half-life. 
D) chemical life cycle. 
A) activation time. 
B) life span. 
C) half-life. 
D) chemical life cycle.

Exam 18: Origin and History of Life

Explain why stromatolites are believed to hold a clue to the origin of the first prokaryotic cells on Earth during the Precambrian Era.

The fact that a nucleic acid is a very complicated molecule suggests that

The Carboniferous Period is extremely significant to our current society because

The formation of the ozone shield during the Precambrian era helped to create favorable conditions for the evolution of terrestrial life forms.

Which of the following time periods contains the others?

The first cells gave rise to

The first known multicellular organisms evolved approximately how many years ago?

Which of the following lists of mass extinctions and eras is correct?

________ proposed that polypeptides and RNA evolved simultaneously.

Which statement is NOT true about the RNA-first hypothesis?

The lack of oxygen in the ancient Earth's atmosphere was beneficial because oxygen combines with organic molecules to prevent them from forming polymers.

Which piece of evidence best supports the endosymbiotic theory of organelle evolution?

If the hypothesis that protocells were based on an "RNA world" is correct,what would be necessary to shift to a "DNA world"?

Dinosaurs were the dominant group during the Mesozoic Era and many scientists believe that they were

The place where two plates meet and scrape past one another,creating stress that results in earthquakes,is a(n)

When and where did the first multicellular protists evolve?

Which statement is NOT true about a protocell?

Which of the following statements is true regarding the theory of continental drift?

The oxygen in the atmosphere developed approximately ________ billion years ago.

The time that it takes for half of a radioactive isotope to change into another stable element is its

A View of Life

Basic Chemistry

The Chemistry of Organic Molecules

Cell Structure and Function

Membrane Structure and Function

Metabolism: Energy and Enzymes

Photosynthesis

Cellular Respiration

The Cell Cycle and Cellular Reproduction

Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction

Mendelian Patterns of Inheritance

Molecular Biology of the Gene

Regulation of Gene Expression

Biotechnology and Genomics

Darwin and Evolution

How Populations Evolve

Speciation and Macroevolution

Taxonomy,systematics,and Phylogeny

Viruses,bacteria,and Archaea

Protist Evolution and Diversity

Fungi Evolution and Diversity

Plant Evolution and Diversity

Flowering Plants: Structure and Organization

Flowering Plants: Nutrition and Transport

Flowering Plants: Control of Growth Responses

Flowering Plants: Reproduction

Invertebrate Evolution

Vertebrate Evolution

Human Evolution

Animal Organization and Homeostasis

Circulation and Cardiovascular Systems

The Lymphatic and Immune Systems

Digestive Systems and Nutrition

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Body Fluid Regulation and Excretory Systems

Neurons and Nervous Systems

Sense Organs

Locomotion and Support Systems

Hormones and Endocrine Systems

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Animal Development and Aging

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Major Ecosystems of the Biosphere

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